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Abstract:

Systems and methods for speed-adjustable model navigation are provided.
In aspects, a model platform includes a model engine and a speed tool
that operates with the model engine to generate a graphical view of a
geological model. Various features of the geological object may be
encoded or reflected in the geological model, including the composition,
pressure, temperate, structure, fracture lines, and other aspects of a
hydrocarbon deposit, cavity, or other geological structure. The user may
operate the speed tool to examine the histogram of color or intensity of
the pixels or voxels of regions of the model view, and set a speed curve
to control how quickly or slowly a cursor or other control may move
through or traverse a region, based on the color, intensity, or other
value. Regions of interest may be explored more efficiently and
accurately.

Claims:

1. A method of navigating a geological model, comprising: accessing a
model engine to generate a view of the geological model; identifying a
set of speed settings for navigating the view of the geological model
based on at least one characteristic of the view of the geological model;
receiving user input for navigating the view of the geological model; and
controlling a speed of the navigating based at least partially on the set
of speed settings and a value of the at least one characteristic at a
user-selected location in the view.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the view of the geological model
comprises at least one of a two-dimensional view or a three-dimensional
view.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic
comprises at least one of: a brightness value for a pixel or voxel of the
view, a color value for a pixel or voxel of the view, or an intensity
value for a pixel or voxel of the view.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one characteristic is
encoded in a histogram.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the set of speed settings comprises a
speed curve indicating a speed of the navigating as a function of a
histogram value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of speed settings comprises a
reduction in the speed as the histogram value decreases.

8. A system, comprising: an interface to a display configured to display
a view of a geological model; and a processor, communicating with the
display via the interface, the processor being configured to: identify a
set of speed settings for navigating the view of the geological model
based on at least one characteristic of the view of the geological model,
receive user input for navigating the view of the geological model; and
control a speed of the navigating based at least partially on the set of
speed settings and a value of the at least one characteristic at a
user-selected location in the view.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the view of the geological model
comprises at least one of a two-dimensional view or a three-dimensional
view.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one characteristic
comprises at least one of: a brightness value for a pixel or voxel of the
view, a color value for a pixel or voxel of the view, or an intensity
value for a pixel or voxel of the view.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one characteristic is
encoded in a histogram.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the set of speed settings comprises a
speed curve indicating a speed of the navigating as a function of a
histogram value.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of speed settings comprises a
reduction in the speed as the histogram value decreases.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises at least one
of: user-controlled cursor input, touchpad input, or keyboard input.

15. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising
computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor
to perform operations comprising: accessing a model engine to generate a
view of a geological model; identifying a set of speed settings for
navigating the view of the geological model based on at least one
characteristic of the view of the geological model; receiving user input
for navigating the view of the geological model; and controlling a speed
of the navigating based at least partially on the set of speed settings
and a value of the at least one characteristic at a user-selected
location in the view.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the view of the
geological model comprises at least one of a two-dimensional view or a
three-dimensional view.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the at least one
characteristic comprises at least one of: a brightness value for a pixel
or voxel of the view, a color value for a pixel or voxel of the view, or
an intensity value for a pixel or voxel of the view.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the at least one
characteristic is encoded in a histogram.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the set of speed
settings comprises a speed curve indicating a speed of the navigating as
a function of a histogram value, and wherein the set of speed settings
comprises a reduction in the speed as the histogram value decreases.

[0002] In geology-related sciences, computer-generated models of
geological formations or objects, such as oil fields or deposits, or
others are employed. Generally, such geological models present the user
with a graphical view of a subterranean well, borehole, cavity, channel,
formation, fractures, etc.

[0003] The geological model may present the user with a large amount of
structural detail which extends over a fairly large physical range, such
as the model depiction of a well that extends for hundreds of meters or
more. The view of that model may encode many details that are shown in
terms of gradients or differences in compositions, densities,
temperatures, pressures, porosity, and/or other physical or environment
features. In some cases, those gradients or fields may be show as color
or brightness differences in the model view.

[0004] When an analyst or another user wishes to traverse the view to
explore various features, look for faults or other anomalies, or perform
other modeling tasks, the user may scroll, pan, or otherwise move through
the relatively large graphical range of the presented model, in which
many areas may be of little or no interest to the user, but which still
require the user to navigate through those comparatively low-information
regions. This process of navigation may therefore be cumbersome or
inconvenient for the user, since a significant amount of manual
navigation may be required, and the user has no way to speed up the
travel through regions that are of comparatively low interest in order to
arrive at more interesting regions.

SUMMARY

[0005] Systems and methods for speed-adjustable model navigation are
provided. In aspects, a model platform includes a model engine and a
speed tool that operates with the model engine to generate a graphical
view of a geological model. Various features of the geological object may
be encoded or reflected in the geological model, including the
composition, pressure, temperate, structure, fracture lines, and other
aspects of a hydrocarbon deposit, cavity, or other geological structure.
The user may operate the speed tool to examine the histogram of
brightness, intensity, color, etc. of the pixels or voxels of regions of
the model view, and set a speed curve to control how quickly or slowly a
cursor or other control may move through or traverse a region, based on
the color, intensity, or other value. Regions of interest may be explored
more efficiently and accurately.

[0006] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that
are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is
not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject
matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of
the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present
teachings and together with the description, serve to explain the
principles of the present teachings. In the figures:

[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates an overall network in which systems and methods
for speed-adjustable model navigation may be implemented, according to
various embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a graphical view of a geological model,
according to an embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates aspects of a speed tool that may be used in
various embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a graphical view of a geological model,
according to an embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical view of a geological model including
taking a slice of a 3D structure, according to an embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a speed tool of the system, according to an
embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of processing that may be used in
speed-adjustable model navigation, according to an embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of hardware, software, and
other resources that may be used in speed-adjustable model navigation,
according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present
teachings, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where
possible the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings
to refer to the same or like parts.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an overall modeling platform 100 in which
systems and methods for speed-adjustable model navigation may operate,
according to an embodiment. The modeling platform 100 may, in
implementations, and in general terms, be used to analyze, edit, modify,
and/or otherwise operate on a software-based model or representation of a
geological formation or structure. One type of geological formation or
structure that may be analyzed by the modeling platform 100 is a well,
such as an oil or gas well. Other examples may include formation features
such as reservoirs, faults, other geological characteristics, and/or the
like. It will however be appreciated that other types of geological
structures may be analyzed using the modeling platform 100, and moreover
that other types of structures or objects, including ones which are not
geological or seismological in nature, may also be analyzed or edited
using the inventive platforms and techniques herein.

[0018] In terms of configuration, in aspects as shown, the modeling
platform 100 may illustratively contain a variety of hardware, software,
communications, and other resources, including a model engine 102. The
model engine 102 may be or include one or more software applications
and/or services directed to the encoding or representation of an
underlying geological structure, such as a hydrocarbon deposit contained
within an underground and/or undersea structure. The model engine 102 may
capture various attributes of the geological structure, such as size,
depth, volume, composition, pressure, temperature, porosity, and/or other
features, and present those features to an analyst or other user via a
model view 104. The model view 104 may be or include a graphical,
pictorial, videographic, and/or other representation of the model of the
geological structure or other object of study. In implementations, the
model view 104 may show different features or characteristics of the
underlying structure in various ways, including, for instance, the
encoding of composition of the structure using different colors,
brightness values, and/or intensities of regions of the model view 104,
for example to show rock formations having different densities. In
various implementations, the model view 104 may be or include a
two-dimensional (2D) representation of the underlying structure, or may
be or include a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the underlying
structure. The model view 104 may be displayed on a computer display
and/or other output device or devices.

[0019] The modeling platform 100 may also, as shown, include various data
storage, logic, and network resources, including a model database 106 for
storing data related to the model used in model engine 102, as well as
other information. The model engine 102 may likewise communicate with a
network interface 108, such as an Ethernet or other wired or wireless
connection, to access one or more networks 112, such as the internet
and/or other public or private networks to access data, services, and/or
otherwise carry out the analysis of geological structures or other
objects consistent with the teachings herein.

[0020] According to implementations, the modeling platform 100 may
likewise include a speed tool 110 to configure and manipulate a set of
speed settings 120 to adjust the rate at which a user navigates or
traverses the model view 104. The user may navigate or traverse the model
view 104 using various inputs or interfaces, such as a cursor operating
via a graphical user interface (GUI), although it will be appreciated
that other techniques, such as keyboard inputs, touchpad inputs, speech
commands, and/or others may be used. In general, the user of the modeling
platform 100 may configure or adjust the set of speed settings 120 using
the speed tool 110 to create automatic adjustments to movement in the
model view 104, and in particular, to allow the speeding up or slowing
down of travel so that the user may view and explore regions of the model
view 104 with greater control, convenience, or accuracy. In some
instances, for example, the model view 104 may display a model or
representation of a geological structure contain a variety of features,
while wishing to focus on features such as the location of a fracture or
break in a layer, dome, conduit, or other subterranean structure.

[0021] In instances, those features of interest may be encoded or
reflected by pixels (2D values) or voxels (3D values) which may be shown
in lighter colors, and/or greater intensities or brightness settings than
the, e.g., darker areas of less interest. In order to arrive at the
regions of interest containing fractures or other features, the speed
tool 110 may be configured to cause the cursor or other navigation point
to travel more quickly through pixel/voxel values representing darker
areas, while traveling more slowly or slowing down when entering regions
containing pixel/voxel values representing lighter or brighter areas. The
set of speed settings 120 may control the rate at which the cursor travel
or other movement changes while traversing regions whose displayed values
reflect different ranges or types of values. In implementations, the
attributes, characteristics, and/or other values of the regions or
display fields of the model view 104 may be set by the user, to allow the
user to tune or control the rate at which navigation toward, or away
from, areas of interest is performed. It will be appreciated that the
example of the areas of interest being lighter and the areas of less
interest being darker is just one example display convention among many
contemplated. Other conventions may include the reverse, with the areas
of interest being darker and the areas of less interest being lighter.
Yet other conventions will be readily apparent from the present
disclosure.

[0022] More specifically and as for instance illustrated in FIG. 2, a user
may be presented with a 2D view of a seismological or geological
structure, in which the user the user desires to travel from a first
point (B) to a target point 116 (C), represented by a crosshair. The user
may thus navigate or travel a line of movement 114 to arrive at the
target point 116, along which line of movement 114 pixels of different
values may be encountered. In implementations as shown, the user may wish
to move more quickly through regions or areas containing dark pixels,
while slowing down in areas containing lighter pixels.

[0023] To cause that effect, the user may operate the speed tool 110 to
manipulate the set of speed settings 120. As shown in FIG. 3, the set of
speed settings 120 may be in the form of a histogram 118 and a speed
curve 128. The histogram 118 may show the values of the pixels in the
model view 104 in a series of bins or values representing total counts or
values of pixel brightness, color, intensities, or other characteristics.
The user may use a cursor or other input to select or trace the speed
curve 128, to indicate the speed at which the user wishes to navigate
regions whose pixels have corresponding bright or darker values. The user
may select the speed curve 128 to cause a greatest speed of movement or
motion for the darkest pixels, while decreasing the speed as pixels grow
later, in a tapering fashion. For example, a user may select to reduce
the speed of movement to zero when encountering a pixel having a white or
other maximum value, so that the cursor or other movement point stops at
that value. While the speed curve 128 is illustrated as having a
gradually decreasing slope, other shapes, inclinations, or tapers may be
used.

[0024] In addition, while the speed curve 128 and associated set of speed
settings 120 are illustrated in terms of adjustable speeds over a line of
movement 114 set by a user, in implementations, either or both of the
line of movement 114 or set of speed settings 120 including speed curve
128 may be set automatically, for instance by the model view 104 and/or
other logic. Those automatic settings may, for instance, including
default settings, settings determined by a distribution of the histogram
118, and/or using other techniques.

[0025] Further, the set of speed settings 120 and other controls on the
model view 104 may be used in the case of 3D models, representations, or
views. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, an analyst or other user may
operate the model view 104 to analyze and/or edit a 3D formation 122,
through which the model view 104 takes a 2D slice 126 (shown in FIG. 5)
through plane 124 to examine different plane views or 2D characteristics
of the 3D formation 122. The 3D formation 122 may reflect a
computer-generated triangle mesh, or other representation of a seismic or
geological object. To traverse the 3D formation and/or its 2D slice 126,
the user may, as illustrated in FIG. 6, operate the speed tool 110 to set
a speed curve 128, again illustratively based on a histogram 118.

[0026] In the illustrative 3D formation 122 shown, the upper part of the
3D formation 122 reflects an area in which vertices of the mesh are moved
up and down to fit a signal from a seismic 3D sample. The 3D formation
122 may include a circle around the upper vertices, which may be selected
by the user. The vertices contained or bounded in the circle may be made
to move up or down based on a speed a value that is read from the speed
tool 110. Those varying speed values may be based on the value of the
voxels in the region of the 3D formation 122 and/or 2D slice 126, based
on the speed curve 128 set by the user (or alternatively, automatically
set by the model view 104 or using other logic). The model view 104 will
thus move vertices located in the upper crown or top of the 3D formation
122 more quickly in black (low value) areas, and slower in grey or other
lighter regions. Vertex movement may be set to go to zero in white areas,
so that navigation stops there. While 3D movement in implementations
shown is described in terms of the movement of a set of vertices in a 3D
mesh to fit or "cap" the upper boundary of the 3D formation 122, it will
be understood that other types or directions of movements in 3D space are
possible.

[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of geological modeling, image
processing, and other processing that may be performed in systems and
methods for speed-adjustable model navigation, according to aspects. In
702, processing may begin. In 704, an analyst or other user may initiate
and/or access the model engine 102, such as by initiating or accessing an
application on a workstation or other client, and/or by initiating and/or
accessing the model engine 102 and/or related services via a cloud-based
network, or other network. In 706, the model engine 102 may generate a
model view 104 of a desired or selected geological structure, and/or
other object. The model view 104 may, again, be or include a 2D and/or 3D
representation of the geological structure and/or other formation or
object.

[0028] In 708, the model engine 102 and/or other logic may generate and/or
present a histogram 118 and/or other data associated with the model view
104. In aspects, the histogram 118 and/or other data may be presented via
the speed tool 110, and/or through other screens, gadgets, or interfaces.
In 710, the model engine 102 may receive user selection(s) for the set of
speed settings 120, which may be or include a speed curve as shown, to
control the speed of movement or navigation depending on the brightness,
color, and/or other characteristic of the pixel or voxel at which the
current model view 104 is located. It may be noted that in addition to or
instead of manual user selection or input of the set of speed settings
120 or related data, the model engine 102 may be configured to
automatically generate values for the set of speed settings 120, such as
by using default values, calculating or normalizing a distribution of the
histogram bins, and/or using other "smart" techniques.

[0029] In 712, the user may use the model engine 102 to navigate or
traverse the model view 104 based on the set of speed settings 120, which
may again include a speed curve or other parameters. Thus in merely
illustrative cases as shown, the speed of the cursor or other graphical
control element may be made to increase while the cursor is located in
regions with lower (or darker) pixel/voxel values, and made to decrease
while the cursor is located in regions with higher (or lighter)
pixel/voxel values. In 714, the model engine 102 may perform any
user-selected actions around or associated with regions of interest in
the model view 104, as appropriate. Thus, and merely for example, the
user may invoke a zoom tool to view the current location in the model
view 104 in greater detail, or may use the same or similar tool to zoom
out and gain a wider perspective of the model view 104. In other cases,
the user may for instance click or otherwise activate a pixel/voxel to
view attributes of the currently selected location, to see e.g. a pop-up
display of the depth, pressure, temperature, etc. of the geological
structure at that point or location. Other actions may be taken.

[0030] In 716, the model engine 102 and/or other logic may store the set
of speed settings 120 including any speed curve, as well as other control
parameters or other data, as appropriate, for instance, to allow the
analyst or other user to continue analyzing the data or exploring the
model view 104 at a later time. In 718, processing may repeat, return to
a prior processing point, jump to a further processing point, or end.

[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates various hardware, software, and other resources
that may be used in implementations of speed-adjustable model navigation,
according to embodiments. In embodiments as shown, the modeling platform
100 may comprise a platform including processor 130 communicating with
memory 132, such as electronic random access memory, operating under
control of or in conjunction with an operating system 134. The processor
130 in embodiments may be incorporated in one or more local or remote
servers, clusters, and/or other computers or hardware resources, and/or
may be implemented using cloud-based resources. The operating system 134
may be, for example, a distribution of the LINUX® operating system,
the UNIX® operating system, the Microsoft WINDOWS® family of
operating systems, or other open-source or proprietary operating system
or platform. The processor 130 may communicate with the model database
106, such as a database stored on a local hard drive or drive array, to
access or store data related to the geological model, the set of speed
settings 120, and/or subsets of selections thereof, along with other
content, media, or other data. The processor 134 may further communicate
with network interface 108, such as an Ethernet or other wired or
wireless data connection, which in turn communicates with the one or more
networks 112, such as the Internet or other public or private networks.
The processor 130 may, in general, be programmed or configured to execute
control logic and to control various processing operations, including to
generate the model view 104, apply the set of speed settings 120, and
perform other actions. Other configurations of the modeling platform 100,
associated network connections, and other hardware, software, and service
resources are possible.

[0032] The foregoing description is illustrative, and variations in
configuration and implementation may occur to persons skilled in the art.
For example, while implementations have been described in which the speed
tool 110 is configured to set a set of speed settings 120, in
implementations, the speed tool 110 may in addition set other values or
parameters, such as zoom values or others. For further example, while
embodiments have been described in which the geological structure and/or
other formation or object is analyzed using a single model engine 102, it
will be appreciated that in implementations, multiple models, engines,
and/or representations may be used to analyze that object. Other
resources described as singular or integrated may in embodiments be
plural or distributed, and resources described as multiple or distributed
may in embodiments be combined.

[0033] The foregoing description of the present disclosure, along with its
associated embodiments and examples, has been presented for purposes of
illustration only. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the present
disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate from the foregoing description that modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be
acquired from practicing the disclosed embodiments.

[0034] For example, the same techniques described herein with reference to
the operating and/or processor system may be used to execute programs
according to instructions received from another program or from another
processor system altogether. Similarly, commands may be received,
executed, and their output returned entirely within the processing and/or
memory of the operating and/or processor system. Accordingly, neither a
visual interface command terminal nor any terminal at all is strictly
necessary for performing the described embodiments.

[0035] Likewise, the steps described need not be performed in the same
sequence discussed or with the same degree of separation. Various steps
may be omitted, repeated, combined, or divided, as necessary to achieve
the same or similar objectives or enhancements. Accordingly, the present
disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but instead
is defined by the appended claims in light of their full scope of
equivalents. Further, in the above description and in the below claims,
unless specified otherwise, the term "execute" and its variants are to be
interpreted as pertaining to any operation of program code or
instructions on a device, whether compiled, interpreted, or run using
other techniques.

Patent applications by Edo Vincent Hoekstra, Hafrsfjord NO

Patent applications in class Interface represented by 3D space

Patent applications in all subclasses Interface represented by 3D space